Tobe Hooper 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' 'Poltergeist" director dead

[Deberg_1990]

RIP....


Tobe Hooper the horror director best known for helming “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” and “Poltergeist,” died Saturday in Sherman Oaks, Calif., according to the Los Angeles County Coroner. He was 74. The circumstances of his death were not known.

The 1974 “Texas Chain Saw Massacre” became one of the most influential horror films of all time for its realistic approach and deranged vision. Shot for less than $300,000, it tells the story of a group of unfortunate friends who encounter a group of cannibals on their way to visit an old homestead. Though it was banned in several countries for violence, it was one of the most profitable independent films of the 1970s in the U.S. The character of Leatherface was loosely based on serial killer Ed Gein.

Hooper also directed the 1986 sequel “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,” which took a more comedic approach, as part of his Cannon Films deal.

The 1982 “Poltergeist,” written and produced by Steven Spielberg, also became a classic of the genre. The story of a family coping with a house haunted by unruly ghosts starred JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson. The film was a box office success for MGM and became the eighth-highest grossing film of the year.

After “Poltergeist,” Hooper directed two movies for Cannon Films, “Lifeforce” and “Invaders from Mars,” a remake of the 1953 alien movie.

His 1979 CBS miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s bestselling novel “Salem’s Lot” is considered by many fans to be a high-water mark in televisual horror. Combining the intrigue of a nighttime soap opera with the gothic atmosphere of a classic horror film, the two-part program was eventually reedited and released theatrically throughout Europe.

He continued working in television and film throughout the 1990s and 2000s, but none of the films had the impact of his early works. His last film, the 2013 “Djinn,” was set in the United Arab Emirates and produced by Image Nation. His other more recent works included “Toolbox Murders,” “Mortuary” and two episodes of “Masters of Horror.”

Among his other works was the music video for Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself.” In 2011 he co-authored a post-modern horror novel titled “Midnight Movie” in which he himself appeared as the main character.

Willard Tobe Hooper was born in Austin, Texas and taught college before starting out in documentaries.

He is survived by two sons.

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/to...es-1202539868/

[Baby Lee]

Baby Lee is probably weeping in his giant pillah!! /CP

[SAGA45]

Legend. R.I.P. .....Romero and now Hooper. Fallen Goliaths

[Rausch]

I was a fan. Peace during the next set...

[scho63]

I remember watching the two horror movies Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Town that Dreaded Sun Down back to back in the late 80's and it took me weeks to get the gruesome scenes out of my head.

Great stuff and truly scary along with the Exorcist.

[notorious]

He made Lifeforce?





That's a horror/sci fi movie about a hot chick alien vampire that walks around naked the entire movie.

[Easy 6]

The original TCSM is still one of the scariest movies ever made

RIP

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by notorious

He made Lifeforce?





That's a horror/sci fi movie about a hot chick alien vampire that walks around naked the entire movie.

Yes. I never really liked it but it's developed a cult following over the years

It is unique though. Not many sci-fi vampire horror flicks

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Yes. I never really liked it but it's developed a cult following over the years

It is unique though. Not many sci-fi vampire horror flicks

I haven't watched it since the early 90's, but it does have a creepy, dark feel to it.


The hot chick helps, too.


The astronaut falls in love with her, and chases her the entire movie. It's very odd.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

The original TCSM is still one of the scariest movies ever made

RIP

Absolutely.. that meathook....

[Deberg_1990]

He also did a remake of 'Invaders from Mars' in the mid 80s I thought was kinda fun. Liked it as a kid

[digger]

RIP

[Rasputin]

Head Cheese

They take the noggin, and they cook it down except for the laryngx, and they tear all the chunks away from the bone. They use a grab bag, they don't throw nothin' away. They use the jowls, and the sheiks, and the collar, and the eyeballs, and the tendons, and the sniffer, and the mouth meat, and all the flesh and boil it down to a big jelly of fat. It's really good. You like it?
Yea, I like it, it's good.